What we’re about
Want to spend more time in nature, learn new skills, and meet great people? This is the biggest outdoor adventure meetup in WI. All skill levels are welcome. We have free social events at least once per month that focus on things like backpacking skills, wild edibles, cold weather adventure, day hikes, gear, or just sitting around the fire sharing stories.
We hold a variety of classes and trips based on member interest including Wilderness First Aid certifications, backpacking and canoe camping trips, survival courses, cooking classes, firearms training and more. We also offer very unique and one of a kind international expeditions. From Mt. Everest to the Arctic to the Amazon Jungle these trips are organized and guided by NOW Outdoors.
We help people become more skilled, more experienced, and more confident outdoors. We never want to exclude anyone from classes or trips so please contact us with any questions or concerns so we can help you to be fully equipped for any adventure.
If you have a trip or event idea that you'd like to see, please email us at info@nowoutdoors.org.
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See you on the trail!
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Boundary Waters Canoe Adventure June 2024Ely, Ely, MN$1,300.00
Join us for this week long paddle adventure through the vast Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) in Northern Minnesota. This is a true wilderness experience far from any roads or towns. Wildlife includes moose, otter, beaver, wolves, eagles, and more. We provide lodging before and after the trip, all necessary group gear, amazing food, permit reservation and user fees, and of course your licensed professional wilderness guide committed to your successful adventure.
This trip starts in Ely, MN. We will arrive on the evening of June 1st at a designated lodge to go over gear and trip details. Sunday morning, we head out for an early start to our adventure.
Enjoy 7 full days of paddling expedition style through 45+ miles of pristine lakes and wilderness. We plan for a couple layover days during the trip to relax at camp, practice outdoor skills, fish, etc. The itinerary may change due to weather conditions or group interest. Everyone will paddle tandem canoes, help with portages, set up/take down camp, process firewood, share cooking and cleaning up of meals and any other activity of the day. We not only have years of experience in all aspects of the BWCA, but we are teachers, cooks, leaders, storytellers, fishermen and naturalists. We can assure you that our team leads a safe, fun, and educational trip!
Menu items: We believe cliff bars and ramen soup have their place but not on our trips. We love a varied menu that includes delicious meals. A few camp favorites include our famous BBQ pork spaghetti, Rumchata French toast, fruit and yogurt parfait, and the ultimate burrito bowl. We can accommodate some special diets as well. Just let us know how we can help.
Difficulty: Challenging
This trip is not for first-time campers or paddlers. You should be comfortable in a canoe and in the water. You should be able to provide sufficient clothing and personal gear items as per the gear list. Everyone will be expected to help around camp and on the water including portaging gear and canoes between waterways. Expect to carry 50 - 60 pounds of gear or a canoe for short distances on portage trails. The pace will be relaxed at times and challenging at others. Expect to paddle several hours on paddle days and portage over land when necessary. We plan to have 2 zero-travel days for time to fish, swim, relax, etc.Price: $1,300
Upon registration, you will have access to the event group where the gear list and directions can be found.
> Payments can be made on the NOW Outdoors website at https://www.nowoutdoors.org/event-details/boundary-waters-canoe-adventure-june-2024
> Spaces are limited and are filled in the order payments are received. An RSVP on Meetup will not hold your spot.
> Cancelations made within seven days of payment and on or before the payment deadline are eligible for a refund. Other cancelations will be converted to a credit to be used within one year for another Now Outdoors event.Included:
• Experienced guides
• BWCA permits and user fees
• All meals from put-in to take-out
• Wenonah Spirit 2 canoes
• Premium CCS packs with padded backs, waist belts and adjustable straps
• Paddles and PFDs
• Camp kitchen including mess kits
• Group tarp and other misc. group items
• Lodging fees the night before put-in and after take-out
• Free parking/shuttleNot Included:
• Personal gear items (rental equipment available)
• Fishing licenses
• Guide gratuities
• Transportation to/from the BWCAPlease send all questions to info@nowoutdoors.org.
- 3-Day Guided Backpacking TripIAT Trail Head, Medford, WI$350.00
Escape the busy campgrounds and join us for a more remote experience backpacking on the Ice Age Trail! Our fully guided trips are designed to help you gain more skills, knowledge, and confidence outdoors. Join us for this beautiful 15-mile hike featuring several small lakes and streams along a dense forest trail. We will hike each day and set up a primitive camp off-trail each night. This trip not only gives you that backcountry feel but also offers countless opportunities for real wilderness and backpacking skill development such as hanging bear bags, purifying water, rigging a group tarp if it rains, and fire building! With the help of expert guides, the types of skills gained on our trips not only help develop a deeper connection with nature but they strengthen confidence and general awareness in the outdoors.
NOTE: This trip is great for beginners based on miles/terrain, ease of water access, and expected weather conditions. The pace will be steady. If you have any reservations about your ability to participate in this trip, please reach out and let us know. We are happy to answer any questions or talk through your concerns. It's common for a beginner to NOT have all of the gear necessary for a trip like this so we're going to make it a little easier for you. Don't worry about food, stoves, pots, pans, or water filters. We have you covered! If you wish to take care of your own meals, thats great too. Just let us know so we can adjust our group meal prep.
Meals are included and here's why: It's not just about planning your meals right for high activity in the woods but also how you plan to cook your meals. You can cook over a fire, on a stove, or in a bag with boiled water. By including meals on this trip, you don't have to make these decisions or purchase a camp stove and fuel or a proper mess kit. That's $100+ in savings right there! A simple plastic Tupperware with a fork, spoon, and cup is all you'll need for this trip. We will have hearty group meals cooked over a fire or prepped on the trail every day. If you have any dietary restrictions, please let us know well in advance so we can make accommodations.
Purified water will be available in camp and on the trail at all times. If you need gear items such as, hammocks, backpacks and more, we have some items available for rent. Quantities of these items are limited so make your rental requests early.
You will have access to the gear list and directions on the group page upon registration.
Price: $350.00 due June 9th
> Make payments on the NOW Outdoors website at https://www.nowoutdoors.org/event-details/3-day-guided-backpacking-trip
> Spaces are limited and filled in the order payments are received. An RSVP on Meetup will not hold your spot. The trip may fill before the payment deadline.
> Cancelations made within seven days of payment and on or before the payment deadline are eligible for a refund. Other cancelations will be converted to a credit to be used within one year for another Now Outdoors event.Included:
• Friday dinner - Sunday breakfast
• Group gear (tarp, camp kitchen, purified water, etc.)
• Satellite communications
• Expert backpacking guideNot Included: Rental gear available (backpacks, fully outfitted superior gear hammocks, mess kits, headlamps, etc.)
• Personal items
• SnacksIf you have any questions, please reach out to us at info@nowoutdoors.org.
- Machu Picchu, Inca Trail, Rainbow Mountains and More!Cusco, Cusco$3,200.00
This is a true 5-star adventure with the highest caliber guides and the best quality gear and equipment in the industry!!!
This is an incredible 10-day itinerary that really has it all including a 2-day trek to the Rainbow Mountains for a sunrise to remember. It is both incredibly beautiful and challenging. We will trek to lake Humantay which sits roughly 13,800′ and you have the option of additional hikes at Machu Picchu. These hikes are Machu Picchu Mountain which sits high above the city of Machu Picchu and Wayna Picchu Mountain which is a true adrenaline rush for the bravest of us.
Extended trip opportunity:
Ask us about our 5-day Ausangate Trek add-on for a unique very remote high altitude trek off the beaten path. This trek is a perfect compliment to the first 10 days and very challenging in high altitude. You will see more wildlife than people and enjoy natural hot springs at a couple camps under starry night skies.NOW Outdoors works with an award winning partner in Peru known for eco-friendly, sustainable, leave-no-trace travel. They support the local mountain communities and organize regular charity events in the Cusco region of Peru (donating clothes, medical supplies, medical intervention, building schools and clinics, planting trees, and more).
Cost: $3,200 due Sep 30, 2023
A non-refundable deposit of $700 can be made to secure your spot.> Payments can be made on the NOW Outdoors website at https://www.nowoutdoors.org/event-details/machu-picchu-inca-trail-rainbow-mountains-and-ausangate
> Spaces are limited and filled in the order payments are received. An RSVP on Meetup without payment will not hold your spot. The trip may fill before the payment deadline.
> Cancelations made within seven days of payment and on or before the payment deadline are eligible for a refund. Other cancelations will be converted to a credit to be used within one year for another Now Outdoors event.Included:
• Lake Humantay Day Hike (13,780′)
• All transfers to and from airports/hotels, trek
• 8 days of professional guide service with a licensed, professional, English-speaking guide
• 5 nights in a hotel in Cusco (double room)
• 4 nights camping on the Inca Trail and Rainbow Trek in 3-person, 4-season Mountain Hardwear tents (double occupancy)
• Extra thick foam mattress sleeping pads and self-inflating mattresses
• Multi-course meals on the treks including snacks and tea/coffee - meals are made fresh using locally-sourced ingredients (can cater to any dietary requests or needs).
• Train tickets from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and private transport to Cusco
• Inca Trail permit
• Personal porters to carry overnight gear
• Dry bags in which to put your overnight gear on the trail (for porters to carry)
• Machu Picchu entrance fee (both time slots AM and PM)
• Trek cook, kitchen and dining tents, tables and stools, stainless steel dishes and utensils
• Boiled and purified water to refill your water bottle/bladder every morning/afternoon/evening
• Hot water every morning and evening for washing purposes
• Campsites with toilets (Inca Trail)
• First aid kit including emergency oxygen tank
• Bus ticket down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes
• Guided tour of Machu Picchu with plenty of time to explore on your own
• Booking/credit card feesNot Included:
• International and domestic flights
• Rescue/medical/travel insurance
• Personal gear items (clothing, day pack, etc.)
• Bonus hike permit within the city of Machu Picchu: Wayna Picchu Mtn. or Machu Picchu Mtn. ($50 add-on)
• Additional excursions or tours in Peru outside of the described itinerary (ask us about day hikes, food tours, ATV tours, and more)
• Personal meals and expenses beyond what is included above
• Single supplement (single room, single tent available upon request for a minor upcharge)
• Tips and gratuities for guides, porters, and cooksIf you have any questions, please feel free to email us at info@nowoutdoors.org.
- 9-Day Boundary Waters Canoe AdventureEly, Ely, MN$1,300.00
Join us for a paddle through the vast Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) in Northern Minnesota. This is a true wilderness experience far from any roads or towns. Wildlife includes moose, otter, beaver, wolves, eagles, and more. We provide lodging before and after the trip, all necessary group gear, amazing food, permit reservation and user fees, and of course your licensed professional wilderness guide committed to your successful adventure.
This trip starts in Ely, MN. We will arrive on the evening of August 3rd at a designated lodge to go over gear and trip details. Sunday morning, we head out for an early start to our adventure.
Enjoy 7 full days of paddling expedition style through 45+ miles of pristine lakes and wilderness. We plan for a couple layover days during the trip to relax at camp, practice coutdoor skills, fish, etc. The itinerary may change due to weather conditions or group interest. Everyone will paddle tandem canoes, help with portages, set up/take down camp, process firewood, share cooking and cleaning up of meals and any other activity of the day. We not only have years of experience in all aspects of the BWCA, but we are teachers, cooks, leaders, storytellers, fishermen and naturalists. We can assure you that our team leads a safe, fun, and educational trip!
Menu items: We believe cliff bars and ramen soup have their place but not on our trips. We love a varied menu that includes delicious meals. A few camp favorites include our famous BBQ pork spaghetti, Rumchata French toast, fruit and yogurt parfait, steak fajitas, and more. We can accommodate some special diets as well. Just let us know how we can help.
Difficulty: Moderate
This trip is not for first-time campers or paddlers. You should be comfortable in a canoe and in the water. You should be able to provide sufficient clothing and personal items as per the gear list. Everyone will be expected to help around camp and on the water including portaging gear and canoes between waterways. Expect to carry 50 - 60 pounds of gear or a canoe for short distances on portage trails. The pace will be relaxed at times and challenging at others. Expect to paddle several hours on paddle days and portage over land when necessary. We plan to have two zero-travel days for time to fish, swim, relax, etc.Price: $1,300 (early bird price) through June 30
Upon registration, you will have access to the event group where the gear list and directions can be found.
> Payments can be made on the NOW Outdoors website at https://www.nowoutdoors.org/event-details/9-day-boundary-waters-canoe-adventure-august-3rd-2024
> Spaces are limited and are filled in the order payments are received. An RSVP on Meetup will not hold your spot.
> Cancelations made within seven days of payment and on or before the payment deadline are eligible for a refund. Other cancelations will be converted to a credit to be used within one year for another Now Outdoors event.Price Includes:
• Expert guides
• BWCA permits and user fees
• All meals from put-in to take-out
• Purified water in camp and on the go
• Lightweight Wenonah Spirit 2 tandem canoes
• Premium CCS packs with padded backs, waist belts and adjustable straps
• Paddles and PFDs
• Camp kitchen including mess kits
• Group tarp and other misc. group items
• Lodging fees the night before put-in and after take-out
• Free parking/shuttleNot Included:
• Personal gear items (rental items available)
• Fishing licenses
• Guide gratuities
• Transportation to/from the BWCAPlease send all questions to info@nowoutdoors.org.